Settling back into school and the cottage after the California trip has been touchy for Marcus. He's had a few incidents at school, including one where he threw a piece of plexiglass that cut a staff member. The good news is that they didn't call police and the man was not badly hurt, but the bad news is that wasn't the only incident.
After the great time on the trip, I am really frustrated with Marcus. He can clearly manage his behavior when he wants to, even when the stress is high. So to have so many incidents once we got back is difficult. There was even one incident where he broke a peer's glasses and kicked another peer an hour and a half after the re-entry meeting from a previous incident!! I'm at a loss.
The only thing he could identify as a possible source of his anxiety is the possibility of discharge and return to Halpern - both things he wants. Halpern has still not agreed to take him back mind you. They did agree to come to observe him and to talk to Hillside staff about how they have been working with him. That's good news, but does cause stress. Still, he doesn't seem to get that he can't jeopardize other people's safety no matter what stress he's under.
I'm concerned that he's not ready to transition back to Halpern. If a simple observation causes this much stress and acting out, how much would the actual change generate? I definitely feel pressure from Hillside about discharge though. I know they are under pressure from OMH, so it's not personal, but will be something I'll have to deal with. Part of me wants Marcus just to stay at Trahey (Hillside) for the rest of high school. They work well with him (reading to younger kids, for example), have a great school manager, and his one-to-one is awesome. If change would cause such havoc (and potential real damage), why push it? I am not interested in OMH's interest in saving money. My concern is the well-being of my son.
After the great time on the trip, I am really frustrated with Marcus. He can clearly manage his behavior when he wants to, even when the stress is high. So to have so many incidents once we got back is difficult. There was even one incident where he broke a peer's glasses and kicked another peer an hour and a half after the re-entry meeting from a previous incident!! I'm at a loss.
The only thing he could identify as a possible source of his anxiety is the possibility of discharge and return to Halpern - both things he wants. Halpern has still not agreed to take him back mind you. They did agree to come to observe him and to talk to Hillside staff about how they have been working with him. That's good news, but does cause stress. Still, he doesn't seem to get that he can't jeopardize other people's safety no matter what stress he's under.
I'm concerned that he's not ready to transition back to Halpern. If a simple observation causes this much stress and acting out, how much would the actual change generate? I definitely feel pressure from Hillside about discharge though. I know they are under pressure from OMH, so it's not personal, but will be something I'll have to deal with. Part of me wants Marcus just to stay at Trahey (Hillside) for the rest of high school. They work well with him (reading to younger kids, for example), have a great school manager, and his one-to-one is awesome. If change would cause such havoc (and potential real damage), why push it? I am not interested in OMH's interest in saving money. My concern is the well-being of my son.
